Whimbrel at Hay Island

These two photos of a Whimbrel were taken by Aldo Dorio last month at Hay Island. It’s one of the larger, uncommon species of shorebirds that migrates through this area in late summer from its breeding area along the western side of Hudson Bay.

Aldo is to be congratulated for being there at the right time and capturing these beautiful photos!

The smaller bird in the foreground looks like a Lesser Yellowlegs, given the relative difference in size. From the tip of the bill to the tip of the tail, a Whimbrel measures 17.5 in. compared to 14 in. for a Greater Yellowlegs and 10.5 in. for the lesser. If you subtract about 2 to 3 inches for the bill length of the Whimbrel, the body still looks appreciably larger even though it’s farther from the camera. I also think a Greater Yellowlegs would have more dark barring on the flank area just below the wing compared to this bird as seen in photo #2.